Banyan Tree Bartender Wins Cocktail Competition
KRABI, Thailand (July 25, 2024) — After a day of shaking and stirring, not to mention a few twists and a garnish or two, Dawadee Songprasert, affectionately known as “Dao”, was last week declared the winner of the Makro Thailand Creative Drink Challenge 2024.
Ms Dao was acclaimed champion, edging out mixologists from across the region, after her Sang Aroon and Aran Mahya mocktails won the hearts and tastebuds of the judges at the event, which was held on 16- 19 July in front of a live audience in Surat Thani, southern Thailand, and livestreamed on social media. She will now advance to the final of the national competition in Bangkok on November 3, 2024.
Dao said her winning mocktails, which she created herself, were the result of many years’ practice and experiment.
Her lip-smacking Sang Aroon is a stirred blend of homemade palm sugar, coconut sugar, lemongrass, ginger syrup, pandanus juice and ginger ale; while the Aran Mahya burns with a fiery bold flavour, enhanced by homemade stinging honey syrup, and complemented with roasted cashew nuts, sugarcane, rice syrup, soda and water.
Dao refined her mixology skills at various luxury hotels in Thailand before moving to Banyan Tree Krabi in 2023. She is now bartender at the resort’s Kredkaew Bar, which commands an idyllic location on the palm-fringed shoreline at Tubkaek Beach, where she and her associates shake martinis, blend daiquiris and stir sundowners for appreciative guests.
Among the locally inspired cocktails that are offered at Kredkaew Bar are the Tom Yum Cocktail, a zesty blend of vodka, lemongrass and lime, garnished with red chilli and galangal; and the coconut-creamy Tom Kha Cocktail, both of which are based on the eponymous well-known Thai soups, as well as the Khaw Niaw Mamuang Cocktail, with flavours reminiscent of the popular Thai dessert Mango Sticky Rice.
Tiered into a lush hillside facing westward towards the Andaman Sea and the sunset, Banyan Tree Krabi offers 72 pool suites and villas, among them seven two-bedroom options, one three-bedroom villa, and a majestic seven-bedroom beachfront Presidential Villa.
Facilities include two restaurants and a beach bar, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and — in keeping with Banyan Tree’s wellness branding — a rainforest-themed spa.
Banyan Tree Krabi was recently recognised in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, voted No 4 resort in Thailand.
ABOUT BANYAN TREE
Banyan Tree offers a Sanctuary to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul in awe-inspiring locations around the globe. Rediscover the romance of travel as you journey to iconic destinations where authentic, memorable experiences await. An all-villa concept often with private pools, Banyan Tree provides genuine, authentic service and a distinctive, premium retreat experience.
ABOUT BANYAN GROUP
Banyan Group (“Banyan Tree Holdings Limited” or the “Group” – SGX: B58) is an independent, company with purpose. The Group prides itself on its pioneering spirit, design-led experiences and commitment to responsible stewardship. Its extensive portfolio spans over 70 hotels and resorts, over 60 spas and galleries, and 14 branded residences in over 20 countries. Comprising 12 global brands, including the flagship brand Banyan Tree, each distinct yet united under the experiential membership programme withBanyan. The founding ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People” is embodied through the Banyan Global Foundation and Banyan Management Academy. Banyan Group is committed to remaining the leading advocate of sustainable travel, with a focus on regenerative tourism and innovative programmes that elevate the guest experience.
